Page 18 of Flip the Field
The waitress brought our food and we ate, watched the water, and talked about school, classes, and teachers.
It wasn’t until we finished dinner that our bubble burst for good.
“Oh, shit.” Brady frowned and dropped my hand.
“Big Brady!” Matthews yelled from across the open deck. I turned to see them –– four of Brady’s teammates and two other girls I didn’t know. They were holding hands and giggling. I turned back to Brady.
“I didn’t invite them,” he whispered, stood up, and then helped me up. “I wanted you all to myself.” He didn’t talk much, but when he did, his words hit the mark.
I had two seconds to enjoy it before Matthews hugged me from behind. “Amerie.”
The other guys greeted Brady. He shook hands and hugged them. They introduced the girls, but I didn’t catch their names. They weren’t there to socialize with me, anyway. They were obviously enamored with Brady.
They batted their eyelashes and flipped their hair at him. They were the type that no red-blooded American male could resist, but Brady paid them no attention. Also gone was the easygoing, laid-back guy who’d been with me on our date. He had returned to his usual brooding, blank face. Maybe this was the mask, and the Brady on our date was the real him.
I grabbed his hand and squeezed. He squeezed back, then released my hand and draped his arm over my shoulder.
“Let’s get a drink,” Matthews headed for the bar. “Lemon drop shots?” he asked the group and the girls clapped their hands together and squealed. I shivered. Brady laughed and kissed the side of my face.
“Did you enjoy yourdate?” Matthews asked as we joined him at the bar.
“Yeah.” Brady sat on a bar stool and pulled me between his legs. The sun had started to set. The waves had receded a bit. The breeze had died down, but it was chilly. I welcomed his warmth. “Up until a few minutes ago.”
I patted Brady on the thigh. He squeezed me tighter.
The shots were passed out. We each took one. Matthews made a toast. “To the Bears, may we not hibernate this summer. And, to friends. Old,” He clinked glasses with the other two guys. “And new.” He clinked glasses with Brady. We downed our shots. It was sweet and sour and tickled the back of my throat.
“So, Amerie,” Matthews scooted closer with one of the girls tucked up into his side. “You going to give our boy Brady a chance or what?”
I narrowed my eyes and opened my mouth, but he kept going.
“I know you don’t date white guys, but I’d venture to say Brady’s blacker than you, so he qualifies as a good match.” Matthews and the girl giggled and turned away. My face grew hot. Matthews’ comment returned me to the little girl who was too black for one set of friends and too white-acting for the other.
I pushed Brady’s arms off me and weaved my way back through the restaurant. We were in an outdoor bar, but I still needed some air.
“Hey, Amerie,” Matthews shouted after me. “What did I say?” I didn’t wait to hear it explained to him.
“Amerie,” Brady called. I stopped but didn’t turn around. He circled around me. “Hey, he’s just being an ass,” He cupped my face. “You okay?”
“I’ve been hearing that shit my whole life and I’m so sick of it,” I inhaled to get my heart to calm down. “So fucking stupid.” I stepped back toward the group and Brady wrapped an arm around my waist, turned me around, and pulled me to him.
“I know,” Brady whispered in my ear.
“I just hate having to defend myself for being me.” I clung to his side.
He kissed the side of my head. I leaned back and was met with the relaxed version of Brady Hale. I liked that side of him.
I blinked. “I’m okay if you want to go back and hang with them. I’ll drive myself home.”
“Amerie!” Matthews yelled again.
I turned my head, but Brady held my face. I stared into his eyes.
“Listen to me,” He rubbed his thumb across my cheek. I shuddered. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be than with you.”
I bit my lip and peeked over my shoulder. When I turned back to him, he smiled. “Amerie, there’s no need to keep looking over your shoulder. I’ve got your back.”
He leaned down and kissed me, and I was right where I wanted to be, too.
